Railroad-signal



N0. 6|7,507. Patente'd'l an'. I0, I899.

J; w. JONES. v RAILROAD SIGNAL.

(Application filed Mar. 25, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Shee tsSheet I.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR,

museums PETERS to PHOTO-Linton WASHINGTON, m c.

No. 6I7,507. Patented Ian. I0, I899.

J. w. JONES.

RAILROAD SIGNAL.

(Application filed. Max. 25, 71898.) N0 Modal.) 2 Sh'et-Sheet 2.

I My M4 244? FIGS.

27 WITNESSES: I INVENTOR,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSHUA 'W. JONES, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNIONSWITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE,

PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILROAD-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,507, dated January10, 1899. pplication filed a h 25, 1898- Serial No. 675,083- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSHUA'VV. JONES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin and State ofPennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and usefulImprovements in Railroad-Signals, of which improvements the following isa specification.

My invention consists of a novel construction of railroad-signal inwhich provision is made for lessening the extent of movement required ofthe operating-lever to move the signal-arm when the latter and the leverare long distances apart.

It also consists of a novel construction of an adjustable'clutch andcompensating devices to be hereinafter referred to.

It also consists of a novel construction of clutch mechanism and itsadjuncts.

It further consists of novel details of construction, all as will behereinafter set forth.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a railway signal embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 represents an end elevation, on an enlarged scale, ofa portion of the compensating device. Fig. 3 represents a section online w :0, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents in side elevation the clutchmechanism in release position. Fig. 5 is a sectional View of the clutchmechanism. Fig. 6 represents a sectional view on line y 11 Fig. 4. Figs.7and 8 show, on an enlarged scale, detail views of parts of thecompensating device.

Similar letters and numerals of reference indicate corresponding partsin the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, the operatinglever 2 is pivotally mounted ona stand or other suitable support 1, said lever being provided at itslower end with arms 3 and 4, which extend in opposite directions, thearm 3 being preferably longer than the arm 4 and having the weight 5movably mounted thereon. A sleeve 6 is mounted on the arm 3, said sleevehaving movably attached to each side thereof the ends of the rods 7. Apulley b is journaled in a yoke 9, which is pivotally mounted on thesleeve 6. A chain or other connection 10 is passed around the pulley 8,the free end of said chain having a weight 11 attached thereto. Thechain after passing around said pulley passes down through the clutchmechanism A, thence through the tubular guide 12, then around theguide-pulleys l3, journaled in suitable supports, and is connected by awire to one end of the balance-lever 14, which is suitably fulcrumed tothe signal-post 15. The balance-lever 14 is connected bya rod 16 in theusual manner to the signal-arm 17, which is pivotally mounted on thesignal-post.

The rods 7 have a series of eyes in their upper portions permitting ofthe adjustable connection of the rods to the pins employed forconnecting the yoke 9 to the sleeve 6. The lower ends of said rods 7have the clutch mechanism A mounted thereon. This clutch mechanismconsists of the. links 18, each of which has one end pivotally connectedto the rods 7, while their opposite ends are pivoted to arms 19 of theclutch members 20. The latter are provided with check-plates 21,projecting inwardly and so constructed that the plates on one of themembers will overlap the plates on the other member. The two mem bersare pivotally connected together by pins 22, passing through thecheck-plates and are provided with the opposing jaws 23, which whenmoved toward each other engage the chain 10. There being a separatepivot-pin 22 for each pair of check-plates a clear central space isprovided for the chain 10 to pass through.

The compensating mechanism is shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 7 to 11,inclusive. The cage or frame 24, consisting of side plates, is adjustably mounted on the arm4 of the lever 2. The disk 25, having agrooved pulley or roller 26 attached thereto or formed integraltherewith, and a toothed wheel 27, having a sprocketwheel 28 securedthereto, are arranged between the side plates of the cage on a pin 28,passing through said parts and the side plates. To an ear 29, formed onthe disk 25, is pivoted an arm 30, having a weight 31 secured to itsouter end. This arm 30 is provided with a lateral extension or tooth 32,the teeth on the periphery of the wheel 27 thereby looking the disk,with its pulley, and the wheel 27, with its sprocket-wheel 28, together.A disk 34, provided with a series of perforations near its periphery,isarran gcd on the pin 28,against the outer face of one of the side platesof the cage, said plate being provided with studs 35, adapted to engageor project into the perforations of the disk 34. These series ofperforations in the disk permit of its adjustment on the side plate, ashereinafter described. The disk 3-]: is provided with a lug 36,projecting laterally into the path of movement of the arm 30 and isadapted when the several parts are in certain relative positions, ashereinafter described, to lift the arm 30, so as to cause thedisengagement of its tooth or lateral extension from the notch in thedisk 25 and the teeth of the wheel 27. A chain 37 has one end attachedto the grooved pulley 26, as at a, and passing partly around said pulleyhas its opposite end attached to a plate 38, adjustablysecured to thestandard 1. A chain 39 is passed around the sprocket-wheel 28 and has aweight 4.0 attached to one end thereof, while the opposite end isattached to a wire or other flexible connection passing around suitableguide-pulleys 41 and connected to the balance-lever 14.

The operation is as follows: Assuming the parts to be in the positionseen in full lines in Fig. 1, if now the operating-lever 2 be moved tothe right in the direction of the arrow the arm 3 will be shifteddownwardly, and by reason of the connections to the clutch mechanism Athe jaws 23 thereof will open to release the chain 10. The shifting ofthe lever 2 to the right will raise the arm 4. and the parts connectedthereto. Vthile the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, and bythe dotted lines, the arm 30 will be so supported by the lug 36 on thedisk 30 that the tooth or extension 32 on said arm will be held out ofengagement with the teeth of the wheel 27. As arm 4 commences to risethe disk 25 and pulley 26 will be rotated by the chain 37 in suchdirection as to lift the arm 30 from the ln g 36. As the rotationcontinues the arm 30 can be moved by the weight 31, so as to cause itsextension or tooth 32 to engage the toothed wheel 27, thereby lockingsaid wheel and the sprocket-wheel 28. The continued upward movement ofthe arm 4 after the locking of the sprocket-wheel will exert a pull onthe chain 39 to shift the signal to danger position.

It is characteristic of my improved mechanism that the wire employed forpulling the signal to danger is locked while the signal is in thatposition as against any movement in the direction necessary to permit ofthe signal being cleared, so that any pull on the connection 10 outsideof the signal-tower cannot clear the signal. It is also characteristicof the improvement that while the signal is at normal or danger anyexpansion of the connection 39 will be taken up by the weight 4, thedisk and wheels being free to rotate in the direction of the arrow as atall times, although looked as against rotation in the opposite directionby the chain 3 I claim herein as my invention 1. In a railroad-signal,an operating-lever having laterally-extending arms, compensat ingdevices attached to one of said arms, a pulley secured to the other arm,connections from said pulley to a suitable clutch mechanism, the sameconsisting of the levers 1?) and 20, the two latter having suitablejaws, a signal-arm, and suitable connections for ac tuating the latter,extending from said arm over said pulley and compensating device,substantially as described.

2. In a railroad-signal, the herein-described clutch mechanismconsisting of the rods 7, having their upper portions provided with aseries of eyes, the arms 18 attached to the lower portions of said rods,the clutch members 20, having the jaws 23, the sides 21, the latterbeing suitably pivoted together, and means for supporting and actuatingsaid clutch mechanism, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, the rods '7, the "arms 18pivoted thereto, the clutch members 20, the sides 21 attached to thelatter, the pins 22, and means for holding the same in position, thetubular guide 12, and means for actuating said clutch mechanism,substantially as described.

at. In a device of the character described the herein-describedcompensating mechanism consisting of the supporting cage or frame 24,one of the side plates of the latter provided with pins 35, theaperture-disk 3i having a stop thereon, and adapted to be held asagainst rotation by said pins, a pulley with a toothed periphery andmounted in the frame, a weighted pawl adapted to engage the teeth on thepulley and a flexible connection from the signal passing over the pulleyand provided at its free end with a weight, substantially as set forth.

5. In a device of the character described, an operating-lever havinglaterally-extended arms, a movable sleeve on one of said arms, a yokeand rods pivotally attached to said sleeve, and a clutch mechanismadapted to be actuated by said rods, a pulley mounted in said yoke, aweighted chain passing over said pulley, through said clutch mechanism,and adapted to operate a signal-ar1n in one direction, and means foroperating said arm in the other direction, substantially as described.

6. In a railroad-signal, a compensating device consisting of the cage24., pins 35 attached to one side of the cage, the perforated disk 34:having the lug 86 attached thereto, the disk 25 having a weighted armpivotally attached thereto, a tooth secured to said arm, a ratchet-wheelhaving a sprocket-wheel attached thereto, and adapted to be locked tothe disk 25, and suitable means actuated by said compensating device formoving a signal arm, substantially as described.

7. In a railroad-signal, a compensating de- IIO vice consisting of thecage 24, pins 35 attached to one of the side plates of the cage, theperforated disk 34: having the ing 36, the disk 25 having a weighted armpivotally attached thereto, and provided with a,tooth, a pulley attachedto said disk, a chain or cord extending from said pulley to theadjustable plate 88, a ratchet-wheel having a sprocket-wheel attachedthereto, a weighted chain passing over said sprocket-wheel, and havingan end attached to a lever adapted to actuate a signal-arm in onedirection, and means for actuating said arm in another direction,substantially as described.

'8. In a railroad-signal, a compensating device consistingof a diskhavinga weighted arm provided with a tooth attached thereto, means forlimiting the movement of said disk, a

' toothed wheel and a sprocket-wheel movable in unison, means forsupporting the above parts, a weighted chain passing over saidsprocket-wheel, and connected to means for actuating a signal-arm in onedirection, and means for moving said arms in an opposite direction, saidparts being combined, substantially as described.

9. In a railroad-signal, an operating-lever having arms extendinglaterally therefrom, a yoke and clutch mechanism pivotally attached toand movable with one of said arms,

a compensating device attached to and movable with the other of saidarms, in combination with suitable connections adapted'to actuate asignal-arm, substantially as described.

10. In a device of the character described, the operating-lever havingthe laterally-extending arms 3 and at, the sleeve 6 mounted on said arm3, the rods 7 and yoke 9 pivotally attached to said sleeve, the pulley 8mounted in said yoke, the clutch mechanism comprising the levers 19 and20 suitably attached to said rods '7, the pivots 22 for said levers,said rods being suitably supported, a compensating device attached tosaid arm 4:, and suitable connections for actuating a signal-arm,substantially as described.

11. In a railroad-signal, a standard, an operating-lever suitablypivoted on said standard, and having arms extending laterally therefrom,a clutch mechanism secured to one of said arms, a weighted chain passingover a pulley mounted in bearings connected with said arm, a weightedlever connected with said chain, a sprocket-wheel suitably journaled inan attachment connected with the other arm, a weighted chain passingover said sprocket-wheel and connected with said I weighted lever, and asignal-arm connected with said weighted lever, said parts being combinedsubstantially as described.

12. In a railroad-signal, an operating-lever having an arm with anadjustable sleeve thereon, a yoke mounted on said sleeve and having apulley journaled therein, the rods 7 adj ustably connected with saidsleeve, the lever 19 pivoted to. said rods, the clutch members 2Opivoted to said lever and each having a plate pivoted as described, anda weighted chain passing over said pulley and between the jaws of saidclutch members, said parts being combined, substantially as described.

13. In a railroad-signal, an operating-lever having an arm extendinglaterally therefrom, a cage depending from said arm and consisting oftwo sides, one of which has pins in its outer face, a disk with holesfor said pins and a central opening and an angular flange, a disk havinga notch therein and provided with an ear having a weighted arm attachedthereto, a pawl on said arm, having a portion adapted to engage saidnotch, a ratchet-wheel, a grooved pulley connected with said disk, asprocket-wheel attached to said ratchetwheel, a weighted chain passingover said sprocket-wheel and connected with a signalarm, and a chainconnected with said pulley, and a movable plate on a suitable support,said pawl being adapted to engage said ratchet-wheel, and having acurved strip riding freely on the chain on the sprocket-wheel, saidparts being combined substantially as described.

14:. The combination of a signal, an operating-lever provided withoppositely-projecting arms, a sprocket-wheel provided with a toothedflange mounted on one of said arms,

a dog for engaging the toothed flange, a stop In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto set my hand.

JOSHUA IV. JONES. IVitnesses:

DARWIN S. WoLcoTT, WM. M. HARGESI.

